Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2134 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2386 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2134
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	James B. Eldridge
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act promoting the civil rights and inclusion of American Muslims in the commonwealth.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and WorcesterVanna Howard17th MiddlesexManny Cruz7th Essex2/27/2025 1 of 5
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2386 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2134
18	18	By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2134) of James B. Eldridge, Vanna
19	19	Howard and Manny Cruz for legislation to promote the civil rights and inclusion of American
20	20	Muslims in the commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE SENATE, NO. 1994 OF 2023-2024.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act promoting the civil rights and inclusion of American Muslims in the commonwealth.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 3 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
32	32	2section:-
33	33	3 Section 71. (a) There shall be a permanent commission on the status of people who
34	34	4practice Islam consisting of 11 persons as follows: 2 persons appointed by the governor; 1 person
35	35	5appointed by the attorney general; 1 person appointed by the speaker of the house of
36	36	6representatives; 1 person appointed by the president of the senate; 2 persons appointed by the
37	37	7state secretary; 2 persons appointed by the senate chair of the Massachusetts general court’s joint
38	38	8committee on racial equity, civil rights, and inclusion; and 2 persons appointed by the house
39	39	9chair of the Massachusetts general court’s joint committee on racial equity, civil rights, and
40	40	10inclusion. Members of the commission shall reside in the commonwealth who have 2 of 5
41	41	11demonstrated a commitment to the Muslim American community. Members shall be subject to
42	42	12the provisions of chapter 268A as they apply to special state employees.
43	43	13 (b) Members shall serve terms of 3 years and until their successors are appointed.
44	44	14Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing
45	45	15authority for the balance of the unexpired term. Nominations for members shall be solicited by
46	46	16the appointing authorities between August 1 and September 16 of each year through an open
47	47	17application process using a uniform application that is widely distributed throughout the state.
48	48	18 (c) The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer
49	49	19and any other officers it considers necessary. The members of the commission shall receive no
50	50	20compensation for their services, provided however, that they shall be reimbursed for any usual
51	51	21and customary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
52	52	22 (d) The commission shall be a resource to the commonwealth on issues affecting
53	53	23American Muslim communities. In furtherance of that responsibility, the commission shall: (1)
54	54	24promote research and serve as a clearinghouse and source of information on issues pertaining to
55	55	25American Muslims in the commonwealth; (2) inform the public and leaders of business,
56	56	26education, human services, health care, state and local governments and the communications
57	57	27media of the unique cultural, social, ethnic, economic and educational issues affecting American
58	58	28Muslims in the commonwealth; (3) foster unity among the American Muslim community and
59	59	29organizations in the commonwealth by promoting cooperation and sharing of information and
60	60	30encouraging collaboration and joint activities; (4) serve as a liaison between government and
61	61	31private interest groups with regard to matters of unique interest and concern to American
62	62	32Muslims in the commonwealth; (5) identify and recommend qualified American Muslims for 3 of 5
63	63	33appointive positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions, as the
64	64	34commission considers necessary and appropriate; (6) assess programs and practices in all state
65	65	35agencies as they affect American Muslims, as the commission considers necessary and
66	66	36appropriate; (7) advise executive and legislative bodies on the potential effect on American
67	67	37Muslims of proposed legislation, as the commission considers necessary and appropriate; and (8)
68	68	38generally undertake activities designed to enable the commonwealth to realize the full benefit of
69	69	39the skills, talents and cultural heritage of American Muslims in the commonwealth.
70	70	40 (e) The commission shall annually, on or before June 2, report the results of its findings
71	71	41and activities of the preceding year and its recommendations to the governor and to the clerks of
72	72	42the senate and house of representatives.
73	73	43 (f) The powers of the commission shall include, but not be limited, to: (1) using the
74	74	44voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations that
75	75	45may from time to time be offered and needed, including the provision of meeting places and
76	76	46refreshments; (2) holding regular, public meetings and holding fact-finding hearings and other
77	77	47public forums as it considers necessary; (3) directing staff to perform its duties; (4) establishing
78	78	48and maintaining offices that it considers necessary, subject to appropriation; (5) enacting by-laws
79	79	49for its own governance that are not inconsistent with any general or special law; and (6)
80	80	50recommending policies and making recommendations to agencies and officers of the state and
81	81	51local subdivisions of government to effectuate the purposes of subsection (d).
82	82	52 (g) The commission may request from all state agencies whatever information and
83	83	53assistance the commission requires. 4 of 5
84	84	54 (h) The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants,
85	85	55or bequests, or any federal funds for any of the purposes of this section. These funds shall be
86	86	56deposited in a separate account with the state secretary’s office, be received by the state secretary
87	87	57on behalf of the commonwealth, and be expended by the commission in accordance with law.
88	88	58 (i) The commission staff shall consist of a paid executive director, employees and
89	89	59volunteers who assist the commission in effecting its statutory duties. The commission shall
90	90	60appoint the executive director for a term of 3 years.
91	91	61 Section 72. (a) The commission shall:
92	92	62 (i) Report on trends and data related to incidents of Islamophobia and discrimination
93	93	63against American Muslims in the commonwealth;
94	94	64 (ii) Identify and evaluate existing efforts to combat Islamophobia and discrimination in
95	95	65the commonwealth;
96	96	66 (iii) Identify best practices from efforts to combat Islamophobia in other states and
97	97	67jurisdictions;
98	98	68 (iv) Evaluate the commonwealth's hate crime statutes and whether any amendments
99	99	69would better protect residents from Islamophobia and other similar forms of hatred;
100	100	70 (v) Recommend implementation strategies, programs, and legislation to combat
101	101	71Islamophobia in the commonwealth.
102	102	72 The commission shall submit a report of its study and recommendations to the clerks of
103	103	73the house of representatives and the senate and the senate and house committees on ways and
104	104	74means not later than November 30, 2026. 5 of 5
105	105	75 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding section 1, the initial members of the American Muslim
106	106	76commission shall be appointed for the following terms:-
107	107	77 (a) The governor shall appoint, on or before December, 1, 2026, 2 members, each for a
108	108	78term of 3 years.
109	109	79 (b) The attorney general shall appoint, on or before December 1, 2026, 1 member for a
110	110	80term of 3 years.
111	111	81 (c) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint, on or before December 1,
112	112	822026, 1 member for a term of 3 years.
113	113	83 (d) The president of the senate shall appoint, on or before December 1 2026, 1 member
114	114	84for a term of 3 years.
115	115	85 (e) The state secretary shall appoint, on or before December 1, 2026, 2 members, each for
116	116	86a term of 3 years.
117	117	87 (f) The chair of the Senate committee on racial equity, civil rights shall appoint, on or
118	118	88before December 1, 2026, 2 members, each for a term of 3 years.
119	119	89 (g) The chair of the House committee on racial equity, civil rights shall appoint, on or
120	120	90before December 1, 2026, 2 members, each for a 3 year term.
121	121	91 SECTION 3. The executive director of the American Muslim commission, established by
122	122	92section 1, shall initially be appointed by the commissioners for the term of 3 years on or before
123	123	93December 1, 2026.
124	124	94 SECTION 4. Sections 1 to 3, inclusive, shall take effect on December 1, 2026.